Work station

ABSTRACT

A work station (1) comprising a base (2) and four portions (3) connected with the base (2), wherein each of the four portions (3) comprises a working surface (4), and wherein at least one of the four working surfaces (4) is a writing desk (5), wherein each one of the four portions (3) comprises a telescopic supporting member (6) configured to extend and retract along a respective axis of extension (11) in order to adjust the height of the respective working surface (4) with respect to the base (2), wherein each portion (3) is removably connected with the base (2) by means of a removable connection between the base (2) and the respective telescopic supporting member (6), wherein each of the four portions (3) is adjustable in height with respect to the base (2), and removably connectable to the base (2), independently from each other.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of Italian Pat. Application No., filed on Apr. 14, 2022 to Unifor S.P.A., and Australian Pat. Application No. 2022202488, filed on Apr. 14, 2022 to Unifor S.P.A. Each of these priority applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a work station, and in particular to a work station suitable for office work or study and for supporting electronic and telecommunication devices, for example computers, printers, scanners, fax machines, tablets, smartphones, cameras, lighting devices.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, the development of work stations having a plurality of seats has been directed towards providing solutions able to meet the needs of a plurality of users.

There have been developed work stations provided with a plurality of seats to allow a plurality of users to work in a less encumbering space. However, not all users of a common work station may have the same needs, in terms of working surface or height of the working surface.

Additionally, work stations having a predefined number of seats may not be completely used when less users are available, therefore the need is felt to avoid waste of space in case that less than the predefined number of users occupy the work station.

Work stations of the prior art do not, or only partially, meet the above requirements.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a work station, so as to solve at least some of the drawbacks highlighted in the prior art.

It is a particular object of the present disclosure to provide a work station which is less cumbersome, while at the same being able to meet the requirements and needs of a plurality of users using the work station.

It is a further particular object of the present disclosure to provide a work station able to avoid waste of space in case less than a predefined number of users occupy the work station.

These and other objects are achieved by a work station in accordance with claim 1.

Dependent claims relate to preferred and advantageous embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred embodiments therefor, given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work station, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the work station of FIG. 1 , in a disassembled configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a work station, according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a work station, according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a work station, according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, a work station is generally indicated with the reference numeral 1.

The work station 1 comprising a base 2 and four portions 3 connected with the base 2.

Each of the four portions 3 comprises a working surface 4, and at least one of the four working surfaces 4 is a writing desk 5.

Each one of the four portions 3 comprises a telescopic supporting member 6 configured to extend and retract along a respective axis of extension 11 in order to adjust the height of the respective working surface 4 with respect to the base 2.

Each portion 3 is removably connected with the base 2 by means of a removable connection between the base 2 and the respective telescopic supporting member 6.

Each of the four portions 3 is adjustable in height with respect to the base 2, and removably connectable to the base 2, independently from each other.

Advantageously, a work station 1 such configured is able to meet the requirements and needs of four users, by means of the four portions 3 adjustable in height and removably connectable independently from each other.

Additionally, a work station 1 such configured avoid waste of space in case less than the predefined number of users occupy it, since each portion 3 can independently be removed from the work station 1 and converted or substituted by a different portion 3 with a different working surface 5.

According to an embodiment, the work station 1 comprises a power plug 7, a processing unit, and a user interface 15 configured to receive inputs from a user.

The power plug 7, the processing unit and the user interface 15 are connected with at least one of the telescopic supporting members 6.

Preferably, the processing unit and the user interface 15 are connected with each one of the telescopic supporting members 6.

The user interface 15 is configured to receive inputs from a user.

The processing unit is configured to control the extension and retraction of the at least one telescopic supporting member 6 in accordance with the inputs received by the user interface 15.

According to an embodiment, each of the four portions 3 comprises a respective user interface 15 configured to receive inputs from a user.

The processing unit is configured to control the extension and retraction of the telescopic supporting member 6 of each portion 3 in accordance with the inputs received by the respective user interface 15.

According to an embodiment, the base 2 is substantially shaped as a cylinder extended in a direction parallel to axes of extension 11 of the telescopic supporting members 6.

Preferably, the base 2 defines four housing holes 13 extended in a direction parallel to axes of extension 11 of the telescopic supporting members 6, and the telescopic supporting members 6 are partially inserted into the respective housing holes 13.

Advantageously, a work station such configured is less cumbersome.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit is housed within the base 2.

According to an embodiment, the user interface 15 of each portion 3 is located on the respective working surface 4.

According to an embodiment, each one of the working surfaces 4 is a writing surface 5, preferably confined by a vertical panel 14.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the working surfaces 4 is a shelving unit 8, or a sofa 9 or a couch, or a plant shelf 10.

According to an embodiment, one of the four working surfaces 4 is a writing surface 5, one of the four working surfaces 4 is a shelving unit 8, one of the four working surfaces 4 is a sofa 9 or a couch, and one of the four working surfaces 4 is a plant shelf 10.

Advantageously, a work station 1 such configured is able to meet the requirements and needs of four different users, since each working surface 5 may be different from one another and converted or substituted into a different one, thereby also avoiding waste of space.

According to an embodiment, each working surface 4 is substantially shaped as a quarter of a circle.

According to an embodiment, the projection of the four portions 3 in a plane transversal to the axis of extension 11 of the telescopic supporting members 6 substantially forms a circle or a ring.

Advantageously, a work station configured as such is less cumbersome.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the telescopic supporting members 6, preferably each of the telescopic supporting members 6, comprises three telescopic guides 12 inserted within one another and configured to extend and retract with respect to one another.

One of the three telescopic guides 12 is connected with the respective working surface 4.

Another one of the three telescopic guides 12 is connected with the base 2, and preferably is partially inserted into a housing hole 13 defined in the base 2.

Obviously, those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications or adaptations to the present invention, without however departing from the scope of protection of the claims below. It is understood that embodiments presented herein are meant to be exemplary. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof both in the specification and in the claims, other versions are possible. Embodiments of the present disclosure can comprise any combination of compatible devices/features described herein and/or shown in the figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustrated and discussed. For instance and not by way of limitation, the appended claims could be modified to be multiple dependent claims so as to combine any combinable combination of elements within a claim set, or from differing claim sets. Claims depending on one independent claim could be modified so as to depend from a different independent claim. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the disclosure should not be limited to the versions described above.

While the foregoing written description of the disclosure enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, systems, and examples herein. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, systems, and examples. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present disclosure. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include all such alterations, modifications and permutations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. No portion of the disclosure is intended, expressly or implicitly, to be dedicated to the public domain if not set forth in the claims.

List of reference numerals 1. Work station 2. Base 3. Portions 4. Working surface 5. Writing desk 6. Telescopic supporting member 7. Power plug 8. Shelving unit 9. Sofa 10. Plant shelf 11. Axis of extension 12. Telescopic guides 13. Housing hole 14. Panel 15. User interface 

1. A work station comprising a base and four portions connected with the base, wherein each of the four portions comprises a working surface, and wherein at least one of the four working surfaces is a writing desk, wherein each one of the four portions comprises a telescopic supporting member configured to extend and retract along a respective axis of extension in order to adjust the height of the respective working surface with respect to the base, wherein each portion is removably connected with the base by means of a removable connection between the base and the respective telescopic supporting member, and wherein each of the four portions is adjustable in height with respect to the base, and removably connectable to the base, independently from each other.
 2. The work station of claim 1, comprising a power plug, a processing unit, and a user interface configured to receive inputs from a user, wherein the power plug, the processing unit and the user interface are connected with at least one, preferably each one, of the telescopic supporting members, wherein the user interface is configured to receive inputs from a user, and wherein the processing unit is configured to control the extension and retraction of the at least one telescopic supporting member in accordance with the inputs received by the user interface.
 3. The work station of claim 1, wherein each of the four portions comprises a respective user interface configured to receive inputs from a user, and wherein the processing unit is configured to control the extension and retraction of the telescopic supporting member of each portion in accordance with the inputs received by the respective user interface.
 4. The work station of claim 1, wherein the base is substantially shaped as a cylinder extended in a direction parallel to axes of extension of the telescopic supporting members, and, preferably, wherein the base defines four housing holes extended in a direction parallel to axes of extension of the telescopic supporting members, and wherein the telescopic supporting members are partially inserted into the respective housing holes; and/or wherein the processing unit is housed within the base; and/or wherein the user interface of each portion is located on the respective working surface.
 5. The work station of claim 1, wherein each one of the working surfaces is a writing surface, preferably confined by a vertical panel, or wherein at least one of the working surfaces is a shelving unit, or a sofa or a couch, or a plant shelf, or wherein one of the four working surfaces is a writing surface, one of the four working surfaces is a shelving unit, one of the four working surfaces is a sofa or a couch, and one of the four working surfaces is a plant shelf.
 6. The work station of claim 1, wherein each working surface is substantially shaped as a quarter of a circle, and wherein the projection of the four portions in a plane transversal to the axis of extension of the telescopic supporting members substantially forms a circle or a ring.
 7. The work station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the telescopic supporting members, preferably each of the telescopic supporting members, comprises three telescopic guides inserted within one another and configured to extend and retract with respect to one another, and wherein one of the three telescopic guides is connected with the respective working surface and another one of the three telescopic guides is connected with the base, and preferably is partially inserted into a housing hole defined in the base. 